A Room to Die In Read Free

great importance, that he and his second wife had
come to a parting of the ways.
    Ann, accustomed
to capricious, apparently self-defeating acts on the part of her father, was
not surprised. She expressed mild disapproval. “You were lucky to find someone
as nice as Pearl.”
    “No question but
she’s nice,” Roland agreed. “Too nice. And she worked hard. Too hard. I’m not
used to having my every wish anticipated. Especially when I might not have been
planning to wish in the first place.”
    “It wouldn’t
have taken her long to learn. You’ve only been married six months.”
    “Going on seven.
But it’s over with. Kaput. I’m now in a state of transition.”
    “What do you
mean by that?”
    “I’m making
rearrangements. Shifting the internal furniture. It takes a while.”
    “Where are you
living?”
    “Out in the
country, near Inisfail. I don’t see anyone for weeks on end. It’s remarkably
pleasant.”
    “I suppose your
art makes heavy demands on you,” said Ann, in ironic reference to the avant-garde “sculptures.”
    Roland smiled
his harsh, uneven smile and called for the check.
    A week or so
later, at eleven o’clock of a rainy night, Ann’s telephone had rung. At the
other end was Pearl. She apologized for calling so late in the evening; Ann
assured her that she had been reading a book; and they discussed Roland for
half an hour. Pearl was melancholy but philosophical. She had married Roland
Nelson fully aware of his peculiarities; things simply hadn’t worked out. “Roland
is a very obstinate man, especially where women are concerned. He won’t believe
that someone can say no and mean it. It may take him a while to come to his
senses.”
    “You’re probably
right,” said Ann, uncertain of what Pearl was talking about. Only later did she
speculate that Pearl might have been referring to someone other than herself.
And soon afterward Pearl had died. Ann wondered what had caused Pearl’s death.
    A new thought
occurred to her, a startling, exciting thought that burst in her head like
fireworks. Roland had inherited from Pearl; Ann would presumably inherit from
Roland—and apparently a great deal of money was involved. Unless Roland had
left a will making other provision—which she doubted. How strange! Money,
originally the property of a total stranger, would now become hers! Ann could
not restrain a thrill of joy at the prospect. She instantly scolded herself for
rejoicing in a situation which had cost two lives. And she thought of her
mother, who would certainly expect a share of the inheritance. Elaine would
first hint, then supplicate, then viciously demand. It might be wise to move to
a new address, thought Ann.
    Tomorrow was
Friday, a workday. She telephoned the principal at Mar Vista, and explained the
situation. Mrs. Darlington expressed sympathy and said of course take as much
time as necessary.
    In the morning
Ann dressed in a dark-gray suit and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge,
through the hills of Marin County, to San Rafael. Inspector Thomas Tarr proved
to be a man in his early thirties, of middle height, unobtrusively muscular,
wearing gray flannel slacks, a jacket of nondescript tweed, and a tie selected
apparently at random. He had mild blue eyes, an undisciplined crop of sun-bleached
blond hair, and an air of informality that Ann found disarming.
    He greeted her
with gravity. “Sorry I have to bring you here on such an errand, Miss Nelson.
Shall we get the worst of it over? Then we can relax?”
    He ushered her
down a flight of steps, along a brightly lit corridor, into a chilly,
white-tiled room. He slid out a drawer; Ann peered gingerly down into austere
features, now blurred. She backed away, shuddering. Tears that she had never
anticipated came to her eyes.
    Inspector Tarr
spoke in a sympathetic voice. “This is your father, Miss Nelson?”
    Ann gave a jerky
nod. “Yes.”
    They returned
upstairs, Ann drying her eyes and feeling a little embarrassed. Tarr